When the CEO Puts Their Money Where Their Mouth Is: UPS Gets a $1M Vote of Confidence

UPS CEO Carol B. Tome just dropped $1M on company stock—and here’s why that matters.

On August 1st, Tome bought 11,682 shares at $85.67 each, totaling just over $1M. For most investors, insider buying like this is a major signal. Think about it: if you’re running a $100B+ logistics company, you’ve got deep visibility into cash flow, growth prospects, and market positioning. So when a CEO decides to spend their own money on shares instead of, say, literally anything else—that usually screams “I think this is undervalued right now.”

The Numbers

Current Price Action:

• Last trade: $85.04 (up ~0.9% on the day)
• 52-week range: $84.28 – $145.01
• CEO’s cost basis: $85.67/share

Interestingly, UPS actually dipped below Tome’s entry price post-purchase, hitting $85.23—meaning early bargain hunters could’ve matched or beaten the CEO’s buy-in. That said, shares have bounced slightly back above that level.

The Dividend Sweetener

UPS pays $6.56/share annually (now yielding ~7.8%), which makes this less of a pure growth bet and more of a value + income play. The company has a history of reliable dividend payments, so if Tome is bullish on both price appreciation and steady payouts, that tells us something about how she’s valuing the stock.

What This Signals

Insider buys—especially when they’re material ($1M+)—often precede positive catalysts. Whether Tome sees operational improvements, market recovery, or just plain value, one thing’s clear: she’s betting on UPS at these levels. Whether that bet pays off is another story, but it’s definitely worth keeping on your radar.